The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1887-06-14
HONOLULU FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Old ! Time Fire Apparatus.
First Organization of a
Brigade.
First Actual Chief, w. c. Parlse- Firs,
Legal Chief, A. J. Cartwright.

he could not throw any light on the
early history Of the Department.
Mr. Parke replied that he had been
at the head Of a fire organization in
iS40, having induced the Minister Of
the Interior to consent to the purchase
of hand engine on board wrecked
vessel He had until recently all the
records Of the original Fire Depart
ment but had loaned them to a recent
Minister Of the Interior, who had
mislaid them. However, il the inter
viewer should call at his Office later
he would endeavor to have some facts
of the early departmental history col
lected for him.
A paragraph inserted in the HERALD
next day, stating Mr.. Parke's connec-
ton with the first fire organization,
called forth a communication from an
active fireman, asking for further in
formation on the subject.
Our representative lay in wait for the
honorable gentleman several times,
but only to find him not at leisure or
not at home, until one evening since
the recent election Of engineers, when
Mr.. Parke was caught in his office just
before the closing hour. Then to the
interviewer he related the following
interesting facts regarding the genesis
Of the Honolulu Fire Department.
When | arrived at the Islands in IS4s
there was not any fire organization in
Honolulu. {. Brewer & Co. had a
small engine without a suction hose
but with about twenty feet of leading
hose. 1t was an old Zimmerman
engine and came from East Boston,
and was dignihed with the name Of
Lafayette.
had made at my expense fire
hook, and had it hung up outside the
fence at my residence in Hotel street.
And as most Of the houses at that
time we're of grass, all we could do was
to pull them down with the fire hook
and then smother the fire out with the
adobe wall surrounding the house.
In December, IS4o, the American
brig Patapsco was wrecked. And as
her cargo was to be sold at auction |
called on the Kuhina Nui (Premer),
Keoni Ana John Young, and inform
ed him that there was a fire engine on
board OF her that would be sold, and
as had examined it and found it 10
be a good suction engine | thought il
would do good service. The Kuhin'
Nui directed me to purchase 1t and
did so. The next day, the 5th Of Jan
uary, A. ID, 1850, the following notice
appeared in the P0bNeSiaH;
"Fire Company.-We are requested
by His Excellency the Minister Of The
Interior to state that having purchased
a fire engine for the special benefit o
the town of Honolulu, he will be read,
to place the same in charge Of regu
larly organized company, as soon a
such can he formed. And he take
the method OF inviting all who feel will
ing to engage in such an undertaking
to volunteer in the organization of sue
company without delay, in order tina
the engine may be in readiness, shoul
there be necessity for its use.
ave most cheerfully offer the faci
ties of the PSlaesiaH Office, for givin
notice either by handful or advertise
ment for meeting for the above pul
pose. Who will take the lead in tn
matter2
The next week in accordance wit
thenotice issued by the Kuhipa M
the residents met in building tina
stood at that time where now tn
Hanaiian Gazette building stands, an
occupied by the firm of Starkie Janio
& Co. And at the said meeting
S number of the residents Of Honolul
I we're present and the company wa
formed l have no record of the men
bers of the company, but l know M
! R. Gilliland was elected foreman Of Ii
r company, he formerly having been
. member of the Fire Department OF II
= city of Boston. ! was elected Chic
Engineer. After the formation of II
r company / called it out a number
times for practice at the foot OF Nu
: anu street, and if any person intereste
: examines file of the PODNesian !
will find accounts OF the practice OF Il
company at that time.
After the formation of the compar
a question came up in relation to Q
engine house. A lot of land WI
i selected on the corner of Fort an
! Hotel streets, where the store Of M
Goo Kim now stands. A questic
. arose in relation to the ownership of Il
said lot and after some examinatic
= it was found that Mr., Davies ownt
the lot, and consequently the engiI
house was removed to the lot of lar